第１３４８堀：女の視点から (Part2)
"In that case, why don't we head out of the bath and talk while we cool off?"
Following Menou's suggestion, we stepped out of the baths and settled in to listen to her story at a more leisurely pace.
"Still, when you ask me to talk about Japan, I hardly know where to begin," Menou said, tilting her head in contemplation.
"Well, since I asked for your perspective as a woman, perhaps we could start with clothing?"
"Clothing, huh? In that case, something like this."
No sooner had she said it than Menou pulled several Japanese magazines from her item box.
"These are the fashion magazines that Micos uses for reference, aren't they?"
"Yes. Or rather, they’re the ones I generally recommend."
"Every time I look at these, I’m struck by how incredible the designers must be," I remarked.
"It’s more that the models are top-tier," someone added.
"Oh, this hat is so cute!"
As Rurua and the others chatted happily while flipping through the pages, I picked up one of the magazines myself. Reading through it, I was struck by a renewed sense of astonishment. I could imagine that these were created using computers or tablets, but the sheer level of intentionality behind the layout—the way every element was positioned to captivate the reader—was nothing short of staggering.
As Rurua had noted, I knew that Micos used these as templates, but the gap in quality between the original and the imitation was like heaven and earth. There was no contest; the Japanese originals were vastly superior. The density of information, the design philosophy, the very foundation of the craft—it was all on a different level. The fact that these were produced at a price accessible to anyone and published on a monthly cycle was madness. Yet, that was the reality of the society that was Japan—that was the world of Earth.
Rurua had allowed me to read medical texts before, but even a magazine like this was a treasure trove to me. The clothing designs alone could spark entirely new trends. After all, the nobility always had a penchant for the novel.
As I pondered this, the conversation shifted.
"And then there's toner and skin protection. That’s vital, too."
"Indeed. Though, developing products that minimize allergic reactions is quite difficult."
"Hmm. In what way is it difficult? I must admit, I’m quite concerned about my own skincare."
This was a topic I couldn't afford to miss. Skincare. Every woman, naturally, desires to keep her skin youthful and supple for as long as possible. While Queen Eupia’s skin remained perpetually soft thanks to a divine curse, I did not have that luxury. Until recently, I hadn't paid much attention to such things, distracted by the constant presence of my scars, but things were different now.
Noticing my reaction, Menou turned to me.
"Show, is your skin causing you pain?"
"Oh, no. It’s just that now that I can finally live a normal life, I’ve become somewhat interested in these things. In the past, between the burns and the pain, I barely even bothered with makeup."
I didn't mention it aloud, but back then, the cold sweat from the agony of my burns would have ruined any makeup anyway. More than that, I had felt no need to look appealing to men, so I had ignored it entirely. But now, I could no longer afford to be so indifferent. It seemed my awareness of myself as a woman was finally beginning to bloom.
The others seemed to understand my shift in demeanor.
"Then, how about this? It might actually suit you."
"It’s best to see how makeup looks in person, really."
"Why don't we pick out some clothes to go with it as well?"
"That sounds wonderful. I can have them brought over immediately."
"Oh, in that case, maybe I’ll have some brought over too? I’ve been wanting something new."
And so, I began to acquire knowledge regarding the things women purchase. This, I realized, was information that the noblewomen of Zrable would surely delight in. Surprisingly, the topic of skincare had never really come up until now.
In this way, Menou established her position as a Japanese woman among us, and her bond with Show deepened. Well, I suppose that’s only natural—men are utterly clueless when it comes to cosmetics, after all.